Matthes bent over backward to achieve his stated aim of creating a friendly, folksy setting. There were even juice and cookies.

"People questioned the fact I didn't have an agenda," Matthes said. "That's the biggest reason for having this is not having an agenda."

Many who attended (and spoke) were City Council regulars, and more than a few had openly supported Matthes during his caustic campaign against former Mayor Lary Coppola. But at least half were unfamiliar faces.

Matthes made pleasantries and was self-effacing in his effort to put people at ease during the City Hall meeting. Mentioning he might have to check with staff to respond to some questions, he said, "I don't have all the answers, and I'm not the brightest bulb in the package either."

It was a phrase he used more than once.

Members of the audience, who numbered around 50, latched onto the mayor's invitation to describe their "vision" for the town, and one clear theme began to emerge: Keep Port Orchard "quaint."

Regarding annexation, Leone Cottrell-Adkins said: "Please stop it. You have more than you can take care of now."

Cottrell-Adkins, who has lived on the hillside above Bay Street for more than 75 years, also said she doesn't want any high-rise buildings blocking her view.

"This is our home. It's a beautiful place to live," she said. "And we want to keep it that way."

Several people asked for more communication with city officials. Nick Whittleton said the format of council meetings was less than welcoming. Of council members, he said, "They're not real interested in citizen involvement."

Only two of the seven council members, Carolyn Powers and Fred Chang, attended the forum, and the rest of the council took some heat from Nicole Vaught, a Matthes supporter, for being absent.

"I just wanted to thank Mayor Matthes for this get together. It's a chance for the community to come together and get to know each other," Vaught said. "I think it's a shame the others are not here."

Things grew testy when Tim Kelly, editor of the Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, quizzed Matthes about recent public relations training the mayor has set up for city staff. Kelly, who works for Coppola, wanted to know the "problem" Matthes was trying to solve.

Matthes warded off Kelly's question, saying he saw room for improvement in some departments, but "to specifically call out someone who didn't do a good job, I ain't going to do that. You've asked me that several times."

Foot ferries and lodging tax revenue were two topics mentioned more than once, especially by business owners.

Several people mentioned the council's recent discussion of possibly setting aside a portion of lodging tax money for city-sponsored efforts that promote tourism, such as funding the foot ferry on summer Sundays and holidays. But Dana Harmon, a Sidney Gallery volunteer, said the council should think of businesses and nonprofits first.

"It has been very disheartening as an active volunteer in that organization to see how they have been impacted by not getting the same percentage for their budget because the money has been going to the city instead of the other nonprofits," Harmon said.

She suggested distribution of the tax should be based on a "statistical analysis" of which nonprofits and events brought the most "heads in beds."

Matthes plans to continue the town hall meetings about every month "until nobody shows up any more." Reach the mayor at 360-440-6483.